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"And now after forty-three years, I look back upon those bloody scenes at Bull Run and wonder that the Confederates I fought against there have been my most intimate friends for thirty years. Gen Longstreet, whose artillery wounded me for life at Blackburn's Ford; Col. W. P. Price, of Dahlonega [GA], who shot my horse from under me at Bull Run, when I was unable to walk; Col. Estill and poor Johnny Griffin, my escaped prisoners; all have been, and the living still are, my friends."
At the First Battle of Bull Run, Sidney Herbert was serving as an aide to Brig General Daniel P. Tyler IV with the rank of Captain of Cavalry. Forty-three years later, in July 1904, from his home in Maitland, Florida, Herbert wrote a few recollections of the Battle of Bull Run which were published in the The Savannah Morning News. His reminiscences include accounts of his encounters with Union officers, Confederate officers, and enlisted men who went on to become officers and friends.
Despite my wounds and inability to walk, I persisted in being put on my horse Sunday morning, July 21 [1861] at sunrise and allowed to go with Gen Tyler into the battle of First Bull Run, or Manassas. We were however halted before we reached the field and delayed some time in going into the fight. Lieut. Upton (later General) and myself headed the division, as aides to the division commander. After crossing a little stream, we mounted a very steep ridge, so steep I had to hang on my horse's neck to keep in the saddle. At the top we saw directly beneath us an open field, but on the left, up near a house was an active battery, while on the right, in the woods were infantry.
Upton wanted to order the division to enter the field there, but I protested that a fire on each flank would demoralize the new troops. He finally ordered only one brigade (Sherman's) to make the charge, and just then he was wounded in the arm and retired. I at once ordered Keye's brigade to make a detour under cover of the ridge and come on to the field from the extreme right. Sherman's brigade was badly broken up and suffered great loss, but Keye's brigade held together to the end. <To be continued; additional segments to be added in subsequent posts.>
Source: The Savannah Morning News. (Savannah, Ga.), July 21, 1904, page 9.
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